SPRINGFIELD – Many businesses offer discounts to veterans to thank them for their service to our country. Unfortunately, occasionally non-veterans will pose as military members to try to take advantage of these discounts.

To cut down on people falsely impersonating veterans, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) passed legislation through the Illinois Senate earlier this year to make it a petty offense to falsely impersonate a veteran. The proposal was Senator Murphy’s first bill as a State Senator and was signed into law by Governor Rauner today.

“Veterans have given so much for our country we need to make sure their sacrifices are not taken advantage of by people trying to take advantage of the system for their own financial gain,” Murphy said.

Illinois will now join several other states including Alabama, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin with similar “Stolen Valor” laws.